Dr. Jayant Baliga named among Top 35 Indian Thinkers

Related Links

NC State's Dr. Jayant Baliga has recently been recognized by India Today as one of the top 35 thinkers produced by India since 1975. Baliga was named among several influential activists and scientists, including former president of India Abdul Kalam, famed novelist Salman Rushdie, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, Time Editor Fareed Zacharia, and founder of Sun Microsystems Vinod Khosla.

India Today is the leading news magazine in India, founded in 1975. It sells 1.1 million copies a week and has a readership of over 15 million. The magazine published the article in a special issue celebrating it's 36th anniversary.

Baliga invented, developed, and commercialized the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) while working at GE. This transistor is used heavily throughout the lighting, transportation, medical, and renewable energy sectors. He has also authored and edited 18 books and over 500 scientific articles, and holds more than 100 U.S. patents.

On October 21, 2011 President Barack Obama awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Prof. Baliga. This award is the highest form of recognition given to an engineer by the United States Government. In the past Baliga has also received the IEEE Newell Award in 1991, the IEEE Morris N. Liebmann Memorial Award in 1993, the IEEE J. J. Ebers Award in 1998, and the IEEE Lamme Medal in 1999.